Disclaimer: Blue Exorcist (青の祓魔師（エクソシスト)) belongs to Kazue Kato. This is created for entertainment purposes only, no profit was made. Please support the author by purchasing her books!

天使の火—Angel Fire

Chapter 20: Identity

It was two in the afternoon by the time Yukio entered the grand doors of the underground Japan branch and was immediately transported to Italy, but that's what he thought if he were still in Tokyo. It was morning in Rome, and because of the fast travel Yukio did by using one of his magic keys to cross from Japan to Rome created some jet-lag for him.

Yukio exited from one of the secret doors throughout inside the Vatican's headquarters, St. Peter's Basilica, where all secrets about the exorcists' secret organization were kept buried beneath the public's attention. Conspirists have conjured many theories as to what the Vatican holds in its secret compartments and libraries. Some pointed to the Vatican knowing all the future catastrophes that will occur as well as the time of the Apocalypse, while others pointed to the archives containing documents on extraterrestrial life. In fact, all that was hidden inside the Vatican were none other than documentaries and cases archived by the Knights of the True Cross throughout its existence. The Pope in charge was responsible for protecting the exorcist archives from the public—because there are discoveries and knowledge that humanity could not handle because of their dark nature. Besides, who would want to know that demons exist?

Yukio crossed towards the main halls, where tourists were constantly present. St. Peter's Basilica was constantly hoarded with curious tourists; thus it was mandatory for exorcists to roam within the crowds to ensure no one were to discover one of their secrets just by exploring. Yukio looked from near the walls, which were decorated with such complex and detailed designs it baffled him that humanity built this cathedral in a time where no machinery and tools were available. There were marble statues of angels and saints throughout the walls of the building. Their marble visages were chiselled by perfect hands and minds. There were also paintings and carvings of angels and holy symbols all around the high ceiling domes. Most of the paintings had arches decorated in gold which illuminated the walls nearby with warm light, along with the high arched ceilings which were also decorated with complex and complicated patterns too perfect for mere humans to make. Yukio swore there must have been heavenly guidance or something given to the architects who built this cathedral—because it was too perfect. Words cannot even be close to describing how much meticulous designs were carved on the walls of the Vatican headquarters.

He turned down a hall that was prohibited for tourists and briskly made his way at the end of the hall, where two exorcists stood beside a large, metal door covered in large bolts. The exorcists stood in front of the door to block access and demanded Yukio's identity. He flashed his exorcist badge and I.D, then the exorcists proceeded to strip Yukio of his weapons by frisking him while he handed over his gear. The exorcist holding his gear opened a door beside the metal one and proceeded to lock away his belongings in the vault. After Yukio was cleared, the exorcists demanded his reason for accessing the Vatican archives.

"I've come to do some thorough research on a case I'm investigating," Yukio said in English. "All I require is to access the newspaper files of suspected demonic activity."

The exorcists verified his reason and considered it valid. The exorcists stepped aside from the door. One punched in a code on a screen beside him and a green light lit up above the door. Yukio stood still as he heard the mechanical sounds of the elevator slowly rising up to the floor. With a loud beep, the elevator stopped and the metal door opened apart, allowing Yukio into the elevator. One of the exorcists punched in the code again and the designated floor and the door closed and the elevator slowly moved down. Yukio looked around himself and saw that the elevator was also made of metal, and on the walls surrounding it, there were carved seals and sigils around to prevent any demons from entering. Even the metallic material of the elevator was an alloy with holy silver.

All means of protection was imposed in this place because there was too much sensitive information in the archives that can throw the world into hell if demons got their claws on it.

With the screech of rusty metal, the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened on one of the walls. Yukio stepped out and was immediately frisked again for weapons and anything suspicious. He was asked for his identity and then was allowed access. He made his way through the underground hall, which was lit up by ancient looking torches on the walls. He came to another door and imputed the pass-code on the pin-pad beside it and the door rose up. Through it stood a very modern-looking space. There were fluorescent lights lined up on the high ceilings and computers lined up along the walls. In the centre, surrounded by bulletproof glass was where the most sensitive information stood, where only senior exorcists had access to. The whole room rose up to many storeys of books, documenting the many demonic cases exorcists throughout history recorded. Every detail about demons has been preserved in order to widen the Order's knowledge on them. Yukio made his way to one of the computers. He clicked on the mouse and the screen lit up with the logo of the Knights of the True Cross. The logo faded away and the login username and password boxes faded into view. Yukio entered his username and password and was logged on. Yukio's eyes glowed as he observed the screen, clicking on the icon to the archives. He narrowed in his search and clicked on a program with a database for scanned newspaper articles. Yukio moved the mouse over and the cursor moved to the search engine space and typed.

If she were a demon or... something, she must have stirred some suspicion. I think it's time I know who my students really are.

Yukio had his fingers on the keyboard, but they didn't move as he was stumped on what to search.

If she possessed someone, it would be obvious that she would act stranger than normal.

Yukio typed strange behaviour.

5484895 matches.

Yukio tried to think of something else to add to the search, because five million cases will be too much to look at. Yukio added what would happen to victims in a typical possession. Normally, after the victim is possessed, the demon will likely disappear from the victim's life and fulfil its own.

Yukio typed it in with missing people.

1672145 matches.

It was still not enough information. He could be looking for hours through these articles and waste his time, there must be another piece of detail he must add.

He typed unusual deaths.

37546 matches.

Female.

9587 matches.

Yukio moved his mouse over and the cursor moved on the screen towards the search result. He clicked on it and the page loaded with titles of the articles.

"Body of female dug up after funeral."

"Woman disappears after strange behaviour surfaces. Pronounced dead."

"Friend of deceased female claims he witnessed her at a temple."

"Young girl, 10, driven to suicide. Strange behaviour present before death."

"Female disappears after pronounced dead."

Yukio pinched the bridge of his nose and took off his glasses and set them aside. He rubbed his temples and looked at the screen in frustration. There was just no way to zone in on her. There are too many cases to look at. If only the names of the victims were revealed, then it would have been easier.

Yukio's eyes snapped open.

He didn't bother putting his glasses back on and typed in something he should've done in the first place.

Hana Tanaka.

1 match.

"Alright, I'll just say this plainly: I was transferred from the Vatican headquarters to the Japanese branch," Shura said as she scratched her head and plopped herself on top of the teacher's desk, then crossed her legs. She formed a bubbly, welcoming smile and added, "in case you don't know, my real name's Shura Kirigakure, and I'm 18! Nice to meet ya!"

Shura broke up in laughter at what she said. "Nyah ha ha! Well, actually, you've known me as Yamada for the past months! But from today onwards, were gonna have some fun!" She laughed some more after that.

The students were a little confused at what the new teacher was throwing at them, except for Shima. He merely stared at her in awe and thoroughly observed her figure from head to toe. Ryuji swore Renzo never took his eyes off her chest. Of course it would be hard to resist staring at her because of her revealing clothes.

Shura wore a lacy black bra too small for her large breasts with an unbuttoned, shortened exorcist jacket over her shoulders. She also wore jean daisy dukes, and fishnet stockings that reached up to her thighs. Of course—she wore no top.

"Okay, lessee..." Shura brought up a clipboard to her face and examined the paper on it. "—Looks like I'll be teaching you magic circles n' seals and... swordsmanship? Man, what a pain in the ass!"

"Kirigakure-sensei?" Kamiki stood up from her seat and raised her hand up beside her. "What happened to Neuhaus-sensei, our magic circles n' seals instructor?"

Shura fanned her hand at Izumo. "It's nothin' too serious for you to worry about. He had to go on—uh—" Shura came up with whatever popped in her head. "—maternity leave!"

Izumo frowned and smacked her palm on the desk. "Neuhaus-sensei is a man!"

"—Then make that paternity leave! Oh man, what a pain... Geez, I ain't the type that knows everything!" Shura spoke between herself and Izumo, which made the latter only even more confused and unimpressed.

"Kirigakure-sensei?" Another voice spoke out. This time it belonged to Suguro.

"Yes, what is it?" Shura asked Suguro when he stood up.

"Why have you dressed up as a student all those months?" Suguro asked.

"Man, it's like you kids are investigating me like I'm some sort of criminal. What I was is all in the past now, it's all just adult stuff kids don't understand."

Ryuji gaped in offence at what she said. "What the hell do you mean by us "kids"?!" Ryuji snapped.

As Ryuji rambled on one how much of a mature man he was, Shiemi could only gaze in wonder at the doorway, which was still shut with no sign of Rin rushing in as per usual. Her emerald eyes glinted in worry. Did this new teacher named Shura Kirigakure put Rin into a state of conflict where he can no longer attend cram school any more?

"He'll be here any moment. He's always late for class," Amitiel added after she noticed Shiemi was in a state of uneasiness. Shiemi hadn't noticed until now that Amitiel moved seats. She turned to Amitiel, who was sitting in Rin's place—right beside hers. Shiemi seemed surprised at first that she moved beside her of all 30 empty seats in the room, but what she said after surprised her even more.

"You don't need to hide yourself from me," Amitiel said, sensing uneasiness from the shy blond. To be honest, Shiemi was deeply intimidated by Amitiel—mainly because she was the complete opposite of herself. It was as if she and Amitiel were mirror reflections of themselves personality-wise, only that one seemed to be vibrant and colourful in nature while the other was cold and bland.

"Besides," Amitiel bit her lower lip. "You don't need to be so nervous around me... because I consider you as my friend."

Huh...? Shiemi was too shocked to take in what Amitiel just said. "I-I'm... y-your friend!?"

"Of course you are," Amitiel responded, feeling warm inside. "Everyone here... are my friends."

Shiemi blushed intensely. Her face was a deep red as she covered her mouth and felt the back of her eyes prick with tears of happiness. "T-T-Thank you, T-Tanaka-san...! I-I'm... so grateful!"

Everyone was startled into silence when the door slammed open and hit the wall. Everyone looked and saw Rin, with messy uncombed hair and an unevenly buttoned white shirt. His tie wasn't even properly made. His sword wrapped in its red cover sagged on his shoulder as Rin stood awkwardly beside the door, with a frown crossed upon his face.

"I-I'm sorry as usual... I didn't get much sleep yesterday...so I overslept again... this time all the way through home room..." Rin grumbled frustratingly. "—and no one bothered to wake me up..."

"Well, it sure is nice to see you again!" Shura exclaimed, which snapped Rin right out of it.

"Huh?" Rin blinked then recognized the new teacher. "What the hell?! Why are you here!?"

Shura frowned, offended. "Geez, never mind what I said! Go pick a spot and sit yer ass on it. I ain't mad about you being late."

"Really...?!" Rin blinked in confusion. He proceeded to his usual spot beside Shiemi while keeping his suspicious eyes on Shura. Rin stopped dead after he looked back at his seat since something, or someone, stopped him.

Rin and Amitiel both stared at each other for a quiet second.

"Since when do you sit here?" Rin asked bluntly.

"Ever since you showed up late everyday. Shiemi's been lonely, so I'm keeping her company because I'm her friend." Amitiel leaned back on her seat, her arms over her head, and crossed her legs.

"Hey! I was her friend in the first place, dummy!" Rin shouted indignantly. "Go sit somewhere else!"

"First come first serve... dummy," Amitiel said with a straight face.

Rin exhaled as calmly as he could. "Alright then, you're asking for it then."

Rin proceeded by sliding across her desk and pushed Amitiel towards Shiemi. The two girls squeezed together as Rin tried to get his butt on Amitiel's (or Rin's) chair.

"Hey! Move your stupid ass, dumbass!" Rin shouted angrily as he struggled.

Amitiel tried to push him off, "you first!"

The other students and Shiemi stood still and quiet as the fight went on. Shura crossed her arms firmly. "Are you guys friggin' two or something?" Shura asked, almost embarrassed.

Amitiel stopped fighting Rin and responded, "actually I'm more than ten thousand—"

"Yes, I am!" Rin admitted.

"Well, whatever. You two can fight all you like, jus' don't scream like yer dying." Shura paused and put her finger on her on lip. "Actually, sending you to Mephisto seems more promising." Shura nodded at her own suggestion. Amitiel and Rin stopped struggling for the seat and improvised on sharing it. Amitiel swore she witnessed a small smirk on Rin's lips when he looked at her without eye contact. Shiemi, on the other hand, was too euphoric on the fact that two people, who considered her their friends, were fighting over a seat beside her.

Shura smiled and giggled to herself. "Man, being in charge feels so badass. I'm like some god."

Shiemi turned to Rin across Amitiel and asked, "Rin, are you okay?"

Rin grumbled for a moment but immediately looked up at her and smiled warmly, "nah, I'm fine." But there was something about Shiemi's expression that made Rin ask the same thing. "What's wrong?"

Shiemi smiled back, "ah, i-it's nothing. I'm just relieved you're okay!"

"Me too," Amitiel added. Rin saw no expression on her face, but the softness of her brown eyes indicated otherwise.

Rin smiled and opened up his textbook to whatever page he needed. He also had to improvise on sharing it with Amitiel. In the same seat.

"Hey," Ryuji whispered beside Shima. "He seems so damn different for some reason. Did he actually start to grow up?"

"I dunno," Shima said with a shrug.

"Alright chumps! Let's get this crap done already!" Shura said in a more commanding tone. Everyone began to believe her position as an instructor will get her carried away. Big time. "Let's get started by reading on geomancy in introductory seal theory, on page 32. I'm giving the reading spotlight to Mr. Always-Late Okumura!"

Rin took out his hair clip from his pockets and flipped his bangs over and clipped them into place. You got it, teach!

Rin puffed out his cheeks and began reading, well, at least that's what he was trying to do. "Uh... Geo... Geomancy... as found... in anc...cient... doc...docu... uh..."

"Documents," Shura corrected.

"Nope. He seems the same," Shima said.

"Yep, my bad," Ryuji added.

1 match.

Yukio's heart skipped multiple beats at what popped up on the screen. His fingers trembled for his glasses and managed to pick them up. He placed them on his eyes and immediately shuffled himself comfortably in his seat. He had a feeling he was going to be here awhile. Yukio placed his trembling hands on the mouse and scrolled over and clicked on the link. The scanned print popped up and loaded on the bright screen. The first thing Yukio's eyes picked up on was a black and white image of the young girl when she was alive. She had soft, dark brown eyes and jet-black wavy hair. There was a bubbly, colourful smile on her face.

But something about her was shockingly similar.

Yukio couldn't believe what he was seeing. This girl looked identical to his student. Except the black hair, but despite the colour—it still had the same wavy style. Her eyes were still its dark, brown colour, but there was vibrancy in them instead of a dull stare. Yukio pulled out his suitcase on his laps and opened it. He filed through the papers in a hurry and pulled up his student's information. He placed the paper where Amitiel's photo was on the screen and compared her's and the subject's faces.

Yukio's eyes widened and he gasped.

Despite the obvious changes in expression, what he saw proved everything.

They're the same person. From the eyes, nose, chin, eyebrows—everything.

Yukio proceeded to read the article. What shocked him the most was the first sentence of the article.

"OSAKA—December 27th, 1994. Patient Tanaka Hana disappears after pronounced dead in hospital."

Yukio's heart suddenly stopped. A heavy void hung around it, pressing it harder to the point he was going to feel sick.

"What... is this?" Yukio was startled. There was also information stating she was born on July 18... 1978. That was 31 years ago! Not only is her information false, but also her age!

Yukio was in so much shock he had to pause for a moment and covered his mouth.

It was no doubt about it. That clear face of the girl was the exact one he sees everyday in his dorm. But the fact she also had the same name only proved his suspicions even more.

Yukio placed his hands on his head as worry and confusion coursed through his mind. Just what is going on?

Only one thing's for sure: Tanaka Hana is a fraud.

It must be a demon. Or... Something.

Yukio saw at the corner of the screen the option to print the article. He rushed over to the printer and collected it. He took one more look at the photo of Hana, then briskly walked over to his computer, logged out of everything, and shoved the article in his suitcase with Amitiel's I.D sheet. He proceeded in a hurry back to the entrance and picked up his weapons before heading back through one of the doors to True Cross Academy with his keys.

As he proceeded to Mephisto's office, there was something else about the information he discovered that stirred more questions.

Why did she die on the day and year he was born?

When classes were done, the students made their way back to their dorms, while Amitiel and Rin walked to their rooms in the abandoned boys' dormitory. It still felt awkward that a girl was living with Rin and Yukio under the same roof. Rin was first to reach his dorm while Amitiel's was a few storeys up. Once they arrived at Rin's door he unlocked it and entered. The first thing Rin had to say was simple.

"Ah, finally! I can sleep again!" Rin said as he inhaled a breath of dusty air and plopped back onto his bed. At that, there was a loud screech coming from under the covers and Rin hadn't noticed he fell on a moving bump. Rin immediately jumped off and Kuro emerged from under the covers, sleep crusted the corners of the cat's eyes as he rubbed them with his paw.

"Rin! Watch where you're falling!" Kuro meowed in pain.

"Oh! Sorry, buddy!" Rin said apologetically as he stroked Kuro. "I didn't see you under my—HEY!" Rin frowned soon after and crossed his arms. "You're not allowed to sleep on my bed! You'll get fur all over the place!"

"That bed over there is so hard it hurts my back." Kuro yawned. Rin looked at Kuro's little kitty bed beside the door, then back at Kuro with a disconcerted stare. He couldn't do anything but sigh in defeat. It was true that bed was a little stiff. Yukio was cheap that way. If Rin had the money, he'd buy Kuro a nice comfy kotatsu.

"Anyways, did you miss me?" Rin said as he set his sword on his bed and took off his uniform jacket and hung it up on the coat-hanger by the other side of the door. He rolled up his sleeves and sat back down on his bed beside Kuro.

"I was bored out of my mind so I decided to sleep." Kuro meowed and Rin tickled him under his chin. Kuro purred loudly. "But I'm certainly not bored of my petting sessions!" Kuro added.

Rin laughed which made him look a little funny in front of Amitiel, who had no idea what Rin was doing.

"Sorry I left you alone for a bit, stuff happened." Rin stopped petting him.

Kuro nodded in understanding but stopped when he saw Amitiel.

At the sight of her, Kuro's fur on his back stood on end and he arched his back. He backed up as he snapped. "Rin! Why is she here?"

Rin saw Kuro's angered expression and he looked back at Amitiel, who stood innocent and confused in his point of view.

Amitiel then caught the demon cat's stare and proceeding to stare back. "Why is that demon glaring at me like that?"

"I can smell something bad a mile away, lady!" Kuro growled. "You take one more step towards Rin—" Kuro started.

"Hey, enough, she's just a friend of mine!" Rin cut him off.

Kuro continued to glare viciously at her against Rin's words. Amitiel also maintained her cold, emotionless gaze at him and blinked, a spark of light in her pupils appeared. Kuro recoiled in fear. Not at what she was, but because he didn't know what she was—including the extent of her power. Kuro backed up and growled, standing behind Rin on the bed.

"Whoa, I'm assuming you aren't a cat-person?" Rin made an "o" with his mouth, a little taken aback at their hostility towards each other.

"More like I'm not a demon-person." Amitiel looked away and walked out of the dorm. What she said physically hurt him in the chest as he felt his heart knot up with guilt. Rin ran up to catch her but ended up outside the dorm.

"So what happened back at the park?" Amitiel changed the topic, looking back at him with a side-glance.

Rin blinked in confusion, then he shook his head and scratched it from the back while wearing a goofy smirk. "Oh, nothing! I just, uh, had to have a talk with Shura." Rin stopped and knew what he was saying wasn't truthful enough, because he knew how well Amitiel could tell he was lying. It's disturbing actually. "—And by talk I mean some sort of interrogation!" Rin spat out the truth.

Amitiel's eyebrows furrowed while her eyes widened. She turned her head to him. "Are you okay?"

Rin saw worry in her brown eyes, he actually saw something in her.

"Yah, I'm fine. She stabbed me in the chest with her sword, but no biggie." Rin pulled part of his shirt away, revealing his wound, wrapped up in bandage, on the upper region of his breast. There was blood leaking through the bandage, but only managed to soak through the deepest layer. The blood only looked brown.

Amitiel approached him when she saw the bandage. Rin felt his cheeks blush hard as she touched his wound and observed it. Goosebumps pricked the back of his neck and arms as her soft fingers trailed around his stab wound.

"You could've died," she said, frowning.

"But I didn't, see?" Rin laughed, almost frantically.

Amitiel looked up at Rin with sincere brown eyes. There was a glow from them as the sunset filled the hallway with red and orange light. He saw... Life in her.

"Rin... I was so worried about you..." Amitiel backed up as she bowed her head down. "... when she dragged you away like that."

"Me?"

"I don't know why," Amitiel pursed her lips together and grabbed her upper arm. "It's just whenever someone hurt you, I just wanted to hurt them back." Amitiel closed her eyes and felt her nails dig into her arm. She looked at him again and she saw only sorrow in his deep azure eyes, but also guilt. Rin only felt shame as flashbacks of all the times he put his friends in danger crawled back into his mind. Amitiel tilted her head to the side as gloom grew in her brown eyes. She lifted her hand up and placed it gently on the side of his face. Rin's blushing intensified as he felt her warm, soft hand cup his cheek.

"I don't ever want to see someone I know get hurt," Amitiel whispered sincerely.

The moment she said that, Rin's blushing immediately died out. Rin looked down in disgrace as he took her hand and moved it away from his cheek. He only closed his guilt-ridden eyes to shield them from being seen by Amitiel.

"... I'm sorry," Rin turned back to the doorway to his room. He paused with a shaky exhale as he added, "... but you don't know me as well as you think you do."

Amitiel stood dead as Rin walked in and closed the door on her. She stood abandoned and alone in the cold, illuminated hallway. There's was a look of distress and neglect on her face. It was no longer a stoic, hard one, but a sad, hurting one.

Amitiel didn't move for a while after she whispered to the door, "... you don't know me either, Rin."

A/N: Hey everybody! Please read this because it is SUPER IMPORTANT FOR FUTURE CHAPTERS. I'll be going on hiatus again since university started and that I also have a job! I'm NOT DISCONTINUING THIS STORY! I never will! I'll try my best to find some time to post more chapters but my monthly schedule will not work so I'm sorry but I won't post anything for the time being until I figure out a way around this tight uni/work schedule. Sorry for upsetting everyone but please bear with me. My DA is on hiatus too but I'll still respond to messages etc. so come talk to me I'm bored lol

Thank you everyone for all of your support, it seriously makes me so grateful to have amazing followers like you guys.

Me: If I could draw something for everyone of you I totally would!

me: ...

me: ...

me: ...

me: ... Actually that's not a bad idea.

/runs away/